Murder of Shiaau: Shahil’s three-year sentence rejected again following latest appeal attempt
24 ޖުލައި 2026 | ހުކުރު 17:37The High Court has rejected an appeal filed by Ali Shahil regarding his convictions in the murder of Shiaau Mohamed Saeed, citing a failure to provide sufficient legal grounds for the challenge. While the court declined to accept this specific appeal, the primary trial against Shahil for the charge of first-degree murder remains ongoing.
Shahil, who was arrested on suspicion of murdering Shiau. | Facebook
The High Court has decided not to accept the appeal filed by Ali Shahil regarding his prison sentence, following a lower court ruling that found him guilty of several charges related to the brutal murder of Shiau Mohamed Saeed in a Male' apartment.
He had previously filed an appeal in this case. However, the court declined to accept the matter at that time due to incomplete documentation. He has since refiled the appeal.
When Shiau was found brutally murdered in a ninth-floor apartment at H. Sheereenvilla, young skater Shahil was arrested at the crime scene that same night. He has since been charged with five counts in connection with the case.
He is facing charges of intentional homicide, possession of child pornography, and cannabis use. The Prosecutor General's Office has declined to disclose details regarding the remaining two charges, citing respect for the victim's family.
He was found guilty of possession of child pornography and cannabis consumption. Following his conviction on these charges, he was sentenced to 3 years, 1 month, and 6 days in prison. The defendant has since appealed the verdict.
The Registrar has decided to reject both appeal cases filed by Shahil, citing a failure to establish sufficient grounds to challenge the lower court's ruling in the High Court.
However, the court has yet to issue a verdict on the primary charge of first-degree murder, nor on the two remaining charges. Those proceedings are also now nearing a conclusion.
The investigation into Shiau’s murder has been a long-standing case, with significant delays even in bringing the matter to prosecution. At the time, police attributed the slow progress of the investigation to the difficulty in establishing a motive for the killing. Citing the autopsy report, police previously confirmed that Shiau died from injuries intentionally inflicted upon her body. Furthermore, investigators noted that the victim’s body had been subjected to extensive additional trauma even after death.
Shiau’s murder stands as the most brutal killing in recent Maldivian history. When her body was discovered, she had been decapitated and her limbs severed.
